Stiffer Rules on Censure of Council Members OKd
Despite some misgivings, the City Council adopted voter-approved rules Tuesday that set higher standards for the council to censure its members.
Currently, the 15-member council can censure a member for any reason, as long as there are eight votes.
The new rules, which would mirror a City Charter amendment approved last year by the voters, would allow censure when there are at least 10 votes to conclude that a colleague is guilty of a “gross failure to meet the highest standards of personal and professional conduct.”
“There has to be a higher burden of proof to censure . . . than what is currently in law,” said Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr.
Councilmen Hal Bernson and Nate Holden voted against the rule change. Bernson said it was unnecessary because the new City Charter already requires the higher burden of proof and provides for a two-thirds vote.
Holden said adopting the rules allowing censure might invite abuse. “This is political,” Holden said. “You have a mechanism in place to really embarrass someone.”
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